'Cleaning Up The System': ECI Delists 474 More Inactive Political Parties, Bringing Total To 808 In 2 Phases

Last Updated:September 20, 2025, 06:03 IST

Many of these inactive parties are suspected of being used as fronts for money laundering and other financial crimes

In a further step, the ECI has also identified an additional 359 RUPPs that have failed to submit their annual audited accounts for the last three financial years. (File pic/PTI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has intensified its ongoing efforts to cleanse the country’s political landscape, delisting a total of 808 Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) that have failed to contest a single election in the last six years. This significant action is part of a “comprehensive and continuous strategy to clean up the electoral system," the ECI said in an official statement.

The delisting was carried out in two phases over the past two months. The first phase, on August 9, saw the removal of 334 RUPPs, while the second and more recent phase, on September 18, delisted another 474 such parties. The action is based on a fundamental principle of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968, and provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which stipulate that a party must contest elections at least once in a six-year period to retain its registered status.

The move is aimed not only at removing inactive entities from the electoral roll but also at cracking down on the misuse of party registration for illicit activities. Many of these inactive parties are suspected of being used as fronts for money laundering and other financial crimes, taking advantage of tax exemptions and other privileges granted to registered political parties. By delisting these entities, the ECI is taking a firm step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in political funding.

In a further step, the ECI has also identified an additional 359 RUPPs that have failed to submit their annual audited accounts for the last three financial years. While these parties have contested elections, their non-compliance with financial transparency norms has prompted the commission to initiate proceedings against them. The ECI has directed Chief Electoral Officers in various states to issue show-cause notices to these parties, giving them an opportunity to be heard before a final decision on their delisting is made. 

News politics 'Cleaning Up The System': ECI Delists 474 More Inactive Political Parties, Bringing Total To 808 In 2 Phases

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